Method for slicing furs

ABSTRACT

A fur pelt slicing method and apparatus in which a pelt, held against a feed table surface by a bank of pins, is fed through a series of slitting knives rotating in the direction of pelt feed so that preselected portions of the pelt are left uncut. Also, the disclosure includes an out-feed table discharge portion by which transfer of the slit pelt to a retaining board is facilitated.

Patent [191 Olday 1 Jan. 16, 1973 {54] METHOD FOR SLICING FURS Primary Examiner-Donald R. Schran [76] Inventor: Fred L. Olday, 50s Bogart Place, Dumas Ziems Scranton, Pa. 18503 57 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: April 29, 1971 A fur pelt slicing method and apparatus in which a 1 A 138,536 pelt, held againsta feed table surface by a bank of v v pins, is fed through a series of slitting knives rotating 521' "vs. Cl. ..s3/20, 83/56, 83/915, in the direction o p d so that preselected p 33/431 tions of the pelt are left uncut. Also, the disclosure in- [51] Int. Cl. ..'..Cl4b 15/10 l es an out-feed table discharge portion by which [58] Field of Search ..83/915,l76, 678,422, 431, transfer of the slit pelt to a retaining board is 83/13, 20, 56 facilitated.

I [56] v -7W C 8 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures UNITED ST ATES PATENTS 2,174,603 10/1939 Settel ..s3/91s l" I42 1 I32 l0 I l i i l 26 i Q R k RA} 7 v 24 V \l\ v A A r 4 PATENTEDJAH is 1975 SHEET 1 BF 4 HHWIWI NH IHIHUIHHW INVENTOR FRED L. OLDAY @wmm/S ORNEYS PAIENTEDJAH 161975 3.710.662

SHEET 2 [1F 4 INVENTOR F RED L. 0 LD AY PATENTEDJAH 16 I975 3.710.662

SHEET 3 OF 4 INVENTOR FRED L. OLDAY ATTORNEYS /f I I60 METHOD FOR SLICING FURS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method and apparatus for slicing furs, and more particularly, it concerns such a method and apparatus having particular utility in the slicing of fur pelts in conjunction with the conventional letting-out'processby which the shape of the pelt is modified for incorporation in a garment.

In the design and manufacture of such fur garments as full length coats, jackets and the like using the pelts of small animals such as mink, it is conventional practice for the garment designer to provide a pattern on which the outline of each individual pelt is drawn so that the pattern provided to the fur garment manufacturer takes into account not only the size and physical styling of the garment to be manufactured, but also the overall color of the fur as well as color variations in each individual pelt to be sewn into the garment. By the use of number and letter codes on each pelt outline on the pattern, augmented by general instructions with respect to type of fur and the like, it will be appreciated that by virtue of this procedure, the designer is able to control quite accurately the ultimate styling appearance of the garment.

Given the pattern and in some instances, the pelts, from the designer, the fur manufacturer first selects individual pelts for proper color gradation and matching and trims from the pelts non-usable portions such as legs, heads and tails, carefully marking each pelt to designate the front shoulder line of the animal (usually with a pencilled or ink line on the hide side of the skin) so that identification of the head and rump end of the pelt is preserved. This designation is important inasmuch as the density and length of fur on the pelt will vary from the head to the rump end sufficiently to be a crucial factor in matching pelts. Concurrently with the selection and trimming of each individual pelt, the fur manufacturer marks on both longitudinal halves of each pelt a code number corresponding to a specific pelt outline in the pattern. Also, an indication of the length to which each pelt must be let out to fit the corresponding pelt outline on the pattern is provided on each pelt half.

After cutting the pelt into longitudinal halves, the halves are then sliced on a bias into strips on the order of A to of an inch in thickness, the precise number of slices as well as the bias angle on which they are out being determined by the amount of letting-out required. In this connection, it is to be understood that each of the individual strips will be sewn back together with each successive strip being offset or let-out" with respect to the preceeding strip by a fixed amount approximating inch. In addition, it is to be noted that the two halves are sliced on opposite biases so that when the let-out halves are sewn back together, the strip seams will define a chevron-like pattern. In this way, the natural color shading of the original pelt will be retained after the letting-out operation.

Traditionally, pelts are manually sliced in the manner described using a sharp knife and in a way such that the length of each individual cut terminates short of the side edges of the pelt half so that the overall half will be retained intact for handling. The slices are then completed at the time the strips are offset and sewn back together to provide the desired final shape. Quite obviously, the traditionally manual slicing operation requires a high degree of skill and moreover is a tedious and time consuming operation.

Because of the skill and time required for manual slicing of furs, the need for slicing machinery has been long recognized in the art. As a consequence, there have been developed fur slicing machines by which a pelt is advanced through a series of spaced rotating slitter knives, such machines being shown in US. Pat. No. 2,174,603 issued on Oct. 3, 1939 to Arthur G. Settel and also in U.S. Pat. No. 2,514,804 issued on July 1 1, i950 to the same inventor. In fur cutting machines of the type disclosed in the aforementioned patents, the slitting or cutting knives are supported by a rotatable arbor at fixed spacing along the length of the arbor. The amount of let-out for a particular pelt, assuming a fixed approximate offset between strips to be sewn back together, is determined by the angle of approach or bias angle at which the pelt or pelt half is to be sliced. Also, it will be apparent that the number of slices made during a single pass of a pelt through the knives will be determined by bias angle, which in turn will determine the number of knives used during the pass.

While such machines can be used effectively in the slicing of fur pelts, they pose several problems in the achievement of completely satisfactory operation. Because each of the slits made in the fur pelt extend completely through, or from one edge to the other of the pelt, a severe handling problem is presented in the retention of the original location of each strip in the pelt. Hence, the re-assembly of the sliced pelt on a supporting board or the like so that it can be handled subsequently during sewing operations becomes the largest single time consuming operation in the slicing process. Also, and perhaps more significantly, in fur slicing machines of this type, it has not been possible to effect the slicing operation in a manner to retain a generally rectangular configuration of a pelt or pelt half after being let-out and sewn back together. To achieve the rectangular configuration, it is necessary that at least a portion of the head and rump ends be left unsliced. ln slicing machines of the type heretofore available, it was possible to leave only one end of the pelt unsliced by allowing it to project beyond one or the other of the terminal slicing knives on the arbor referred to. The other end, however, was sliced down to the small spacing between knives with the result that when the fur pelt was sewn back together, a rectangular configuration was maintained as one end whereas the other end tapered into a rather well defined point. As a consequence, the end portion of the let-out and sewn pelt had to be cut off and discarded to fit the designers pattern.

As a result of these difficulties, coupled with a dogmatic adherence to traditional techniques by personnel having the necessary manual skills, fur slicing machines have not been widely. accepted by the fur manufacturing industry. It is equally apparent that the diminishing supply of skilled labor required to effect the slicing operation manually, coupled with an increase in the demand for fur garments suggest an acute need for improvement in this art.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an improved machine and method for slicing fur pelts is provided by which all of the desirable attributes of manual slicing techniques are maintained while at the same time reducing the time and skills required to a small portion of that required in manual slicing. The machine structure includes, very simply, a table or bed surface through which a series of rotatable slitting knives project centrally of the table length to establish an in-feed end and out-feed end on opposite sides of the slitting knives. The fur pelt is retained against the bed surface by a bank of downwardly directed pins depending from a pin board supported on a reciprocable carriage capable of pivotal movement between an operative, generally horizontal position on the bed and an inoperative upright position. The in-feed bed is provided with indicia to facilitate orientation of the pelt in a manner to achieve the desired number of slices and also the pin carrier includes an adjustable portion by which the trailing end of the pelt is left free to ride over the slitting knives during the cutting operation. In this way, any number of slices can be effected over theintermediate portion of the pelt while leaving the ends thereof intact as the pelt is moved through the knives by movement of the carriage with the pins engaging the fur side of the pelt.

Means are provided on the pin carrier board for releasing the sliced pelt from the pins when it is positioned over the out-feed table and to assure that the individual strips remain in their initial position. A pivotal section in the out-feed table permits the sliced fur to be inverted and deposited on a retention board for subsequent handling as during sewing operations, for example.

Accordingly, among the objects of the present invention are: the provision of an improved fur slicing machine and method by which the problems incurred with machines heretofore available are substantially overcome; the provision of such a machine by which the number and bias angle of slices to be made in the fur pelt can be readily selected by positioning the pelt relative to indicia on the in-feed table; the provision of a fur slicing machine of the type referred to by which at least portions at opposite ends of the fur pelt to be sliced can be retained intact or unsliced, thereby to retain the generally rectangular configuration of the pelt or the portion thereof to be sliced; the provision of a unique, highly effective means and technique for effecting separation ofa fur pelt from a bank of retention pins; and the provision of an improved means and method for transferring a sliced fur to a retention board or the like. Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description to follow taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the fur slicing machine of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the invention similar to FIG. 1 but showing the pin bank carriage in its open or inoperative position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-section similar to FIG. 4 but showing operating components of the fur release mechanism in a different operating position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken on lines 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating the pin bank release means of the invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-section through the slicing knives during the passage of a fur pelt therethrough;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating the outline of a fur pelt;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view showing the outfeed end of the machine bed wherein the step of removing a sliced fur pelt from the machine;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross-section taken on line llll ofFIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-section similar to FIG. 11 but showing the out-feed bed or table components in a different operating position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT an assembly of upper and lower beams 12 and 14 connected by vertical columns I6, 18 and 20 and by forwardly disposed inclined struts 22. Quite obviously, other suitable base structures can be employed in the support of the table plate 10.

Located approximately midway of the table plate length are a series of rotatable slitting knives or discs 24 which extend upwardly through slots 26 (FIG. 8) by a distance sufficient to extend clearly through the hide of a fur pelt held against the upper surface of the table plate 10. The knives are supported in uniform axial spacing increments on a rotatable arbor 28 journalled at opposite ends in appropriate bearings 30 supported by the columns 20. Because of limitations imposed by the scale of the drawings, the precise number and spacing of the knives is not fully illustrated in the drawings. Both the number of blades and the spacing between the blades, however, may be varied depending on the type and size of pelts to be sliced. As an example, a presently operating prototype of the machine employs sixty knives on center spacings of 0. I67 inches. I

The axis of the knife arbor 28 divides the length of the table plate into an in-feed end or portion 32 and an out-feed end or portion 34. As this terminology implies,

and in a manner to be described in more detail below, the direction of pelt feed during the slicing operation is from the in-feed table 32 through the knives 24 to outfeed table 34, or from right to left as viewed in FIGS. l-3 of the drawings. In this connection, it is to be noted that the knives 24 are driven rotatably by an electric motor 36 by way of a belt and pulley transmission 38 in the direction of the arrow 40. In this way, the tangential direction of travel at the knife portions extending upwardly through the table plate is in the same direction of pelt feed. This direction of blade rotation in relation to pelt feed effects what is termed a climb cut and requires that the pelt be retained against the blades to complete a slicing operation.

To hold the hide of a pelt against the upper surface of the table plate 10 during passage of the pelt through the knives 24, a pin bank carriage 42 is provided and supported for rectilinear movement along the length of the table plate by guide rods 44 and 46 supported at opposite ends by mounting bosses 48 and 50, respectively. In the embodiment shown, the carriage 42 includes three support channels 52, 54 and 56 extending transversely between the guide rods 44 and 46. As shown most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, each of the channels 52, 54 and 56 is connected to the guide rod 44 by a full bearing 58, the bearing 58 preferably being of the linear ball bearing type by which axial movement along the rod is facilitated as well as pivotal movement about the axis of the guide rod 44 from an operative feed position as shown in FIG. 4, to an open or inoperative position as shown in FIG. 3. The ends of the transverse channels 52, 54 and 56 opposite from I the full bearings 58 are separably supported from the guide rod 46 by half bearings 60. It will be noted also that the axis of the guide rod 44 is positioned in the upper surface plane of the table plate 10 so that final movement of the carriage from its open position to its operative position is nearly or truely tangential to a plane normal to that of the table plate 10.

Supported from the transverse channels 52, 54 and 56 by welding, brazing or other suitable connection means is a carriage frame 62 formed of L-shaped structural members which, in turn, support two sections or banks 64 and 66 of downwardly projecting pins 68. The construction of each of the pin banks 64 and 66 may be the same in that both includes a bored plate 70 through which the .pins are inserted, which plate is bonded or otherwise secured to, a relatively thick reinforcing plate 72for rigidifying purposes and all as shown in FIG. 4 of A the drawings. The pin bank 64 is larger than the bank 66 and is fixed directly to the frame 62 for movement with the carriage. The smaller pin bank 66, however, is supported for transverse adjustability with respect to the end member 740i the frame 62 and the rear edge 76 of the plate70 forming part of the pin bank 64. The transverse adjustability between the pin bank 66 and the supporting components74 and 76 is effected by end grooves formed by the pin mounting plates 70a and 72a as shown in FIG. 6 of thedrawings. For reasons which will become more apparent from the description to follow, the smaller and adjustable pin bank 66 is releasably secured in selected positions transversely of the carriage bya pair of latching dogs 78 and 80 having upstanding finger tabs 82 and 84, respectively and spring biased outwardly to engage detent notches 86 formed in strips 88 and 90 positioned respectively along the rear edge 76 of the fixed pin bank 64 and on the frame component 74. Also, it is noted the upper surface of the strip 88 is provided with graduated indicia by which one or the other of the side edges 92 and 94 of the adjustable pin bank 66 may be aligned. As will become clear from the description to follow, the graduated indicia on the strip 88corresponds directly with the blades 24 in a manner so that either edge 92 or 94 numbered from (I) to (60) proceeding from opposite.

ends of the series of knives 24. In this way either edge 92 or 94 of the pin bank may be positioned for align ment with a specific blade proceeding toward the last blade in the series faced by the edge 92 or the edge 94.

Also in this connection, it will be noted that the in-feed end of the table, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, is

inscribed with a series of lines 96. The lines 96 are in alignment with the individual blades 24 and extend to a scale 98 at the rear end of the in-feed table having indicia similar to that on the strip 88.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 8 of the drawings, the individual pins 68 on both pin banks 64 and 66 project downwardly and terminate in a plane spaced slightly above the upper surface of the table plate 10 when the carriage is in the operative position as shown in these figures. The spacing of the pins on lines extending transversely of the carriage is governed by the spacing of the knife blades 24 in that as the carriage is advanced over the knife blades, the pins must pass between the knife blades. Also, it is essential that there be at least one longitudinal line of pins for each space between knife blades. Although the spacing on the longitudinal lines may vary, it is preferred that the pins be evenly spaced on both transverse and longitudinal directions. In the prototype machine referred to above, six pins are provided for each square inch of the pin bank area and equally spaced on both transverse and longitudinal lines. Also, it is noted that the increments of adjustment in the small pin bank 66 provided by the latch dogs 78 and and detent notches 86 assures that the longitudinal rows of pins in the pin bank 66 will be aligned with those of the large fixed pin bank 64.

Because there is a tendency for the fur side of the pelts to cling to the pins 68 when the carriage is lifted to remove the slit pelt, provision is made in accordance with the present invention for positively releasing the fur from the pins in at least the large fixed pin bank 64.

The release means as shown most clearly in FIGS. 4, 5

and 7 of the drawings to include a series of elastic bands l00 extending through kerf cuts 101 in the vertical flange 102 of an inverted L-shaped member 104 pivotally connected, such as by a piano hinge 106, along both edges of the carriage'frame 62. The inverted L-shaped members 104 are in turn connected by bell cranks 107 to transverse slides 108 connected to the elastic bands move downwardly from their initial position between the pins 68 to positively discharge or release the pelt from the lower end of the pins as the carriage is lifted to its upper or inoperative position as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The structural organization of the carriage as thus described is completed by a handle 116 extending between thechannel 52, 54 and 56 near the end-thereof supported by the guide rod 46 in the disclosed embodiment.

The structure of the out-feed table 34 includes a pelt discharge plate 118 normally supported to be flush with the upper surface of the table plate 10 but pivotal about the axis of a piano hinge 120 connecting the forward end of the discharge plate 118 to the forward edge of the table plate 10. The size and shape of the discharge plate 118 is selected to conform to a conventional supporting board for sliced fur pelts designated by the reference numeral 122 and shown most clearly in FIGS. 10-12 of the drawings. Such boards are of cardboard or the like and include an elastic string 124 fixed at one end and detachably engagable at the other end of the board such as by a knot or ball 126 on the elastic string engaging in a notch 128 in the opposite end of the board to which one end of the elastic string is fixed. A thumb hole 129 is provided in the table plate 10 so that the operator of the machine may grasp in one hand the supporting cardboard 122 as well as the discharge plate 118 and move both through approximately 180,

as depicted by FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings, to

transfer the sliced pelt to the supporting board 124.

As conducive to a clear understanding that the operation of the fur slicing machine of this invention as well as the practice of the fur slicing method thereof, reference is made to FIG. 9 of the drawings in which the outline of a normal trimmed fur pelt is illustrated. As explained above under Background of the Invention, after the pelts have been trimmed, matched and marked to indicate the amount of let-out, they are cut longitudinally along a line 130 to establish left and right pelt halves 132 and 134. In addition to the coding indicia (not shown) indicating the amount of let-out and as well as the pattern space in the ultimate garment to which the particular pelt is matched, the pelt halves are marked by short lines 136 at the head end of each pelt half and by lines 138 at the rump ends thereof. The marks 136 and 138 indicate the intersection of the first and last bias cuts 139 to be made during the slicing operation by the blades 24 with the pelt edges at the head and rump ends of the pelt, respectively. Also, the first and last of the bias cuts establish triangular portions 140 and 142 at opposite ends of each pelt half and which are to be left unsliced for purposes of the lettingout process. After the sliced furs are resewn back together the unsliced portions 136 and 140 will provide squared-off ends in the let-out pelt. Hence, it will be appreciated that the person selecting fur pelts for the garment pattern will be able to establish in advance not only the length of the let-out pelt, but also the approximate width at each end of the let-out fur pelt half.

Given the fur pelt halves 132 and 134 along with an indication on each of the amount of let-out required, the operator of the slicing machine is able to calculate the number of slices required to be made on the bias between the marks 136 and 138. Having made this calculation, the slicing machine operator then places the pelt half 132, for example, on the in-feed table end 32 in the position shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. By placing and holding the mark 136 on the line 96 corresponding to the first knife blade 24 as indicated on the graduated scale 98, he shifts the rump end of the pelt until the mark 138 is on the appropriate one of the line 96 corresponding to the number designation of the blades on the scale 98 corresponding to the number of cuts to be made. Either before or after having placed the pelt half 132 on the in-feed table 32 in that manner, the laterally adjustable pin bank 66 is adjusted so that the edge 92 thereof is aligned with the graduation on the scale bar 88 also corresponding to the number of cuts to be made. Thereafter the pin bank carriage 42 is pivoted downwardly so that the half bearings engage the guide rod 46 and the pins 68 in both pin banks 64 and 66 firmly engage the pelt half 132. At this point it will be appreciated that the triangular portion 140 at the head end of the pelt half 132 will extend beyond the end-most knife in the series of knives 24 and also that the triangular portion 142 at the rump end of the pelt will extend beyond the edge 92 of the adjustable pin bank 66.

The slicing operation is now simply effected by grasping the handle 116 on the pin bank carriage 42 and advancing the carriage along with the pelt through the knives 24 to the out-feed table 34. As depicted in FIG. 8 of the drawings, wherein a section of the adjustable pin bank 66 is illustrated when positioned over the knives 24, those knives located between pins 68 on the pin bank 66 will slice through the pelt 132 whereas those knives positioned under the triangular portion 142 at the rump end of the pelt are ineffective in their cutting function. The reason for this is that the pelt over these blades is not held against them or the upper surface of the table plate 10 and also due to the climbcut" rotation of the knives 24. In actual practice, the portion 142 merely rides over these blades in a manner that there is no evidence on the hide that the portion 142 ever contacted the knives. Yet the longitudinal row of pins adjacent the edge 92 of the pin bank 66 will be effective to carry the triangular portion 142 along with the rest of the pelt to the out-feed table portion 34.

When the carriage is positioned over the out-feed table 34, the finger tabs 114 of the fur release mechanism are grasped in one hand and drawn toward another so that the elastic bands move downwardly with respect to the pins 68 against the fur side of the pelt under the carriage. Simultaneously, the operator uses his other hand to grasp the handle 116 and pivot the carriage 42 upwardly and away from the sliced pelt. After the sliced pelt is shifted to a position on the discharge plate 118 and a retaining card 122 is placed over the sliced pelt as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 of the drawings. The machine operator is now able to pass his thumb through the slot 129 to grasp both the retaining card 122 and the discharge plate 118 to transfer the sliced pelt to the card 122 in the manner depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12. Thereafter the elastic band 124 on the card 122 is stretched over the pelt and secured in the notch 128 to insure that the slices will be retained in their initial position on the card 122. The sliced pelts retained on the card in this manner are then given to a fur sewing machine operator who offsets each of the sliced strips and sews them back together.

The right half 134 of the pelt shown in FIG. 9 is sliced in a similar manner. In this instance, however, the bias angle of the slices is changed by locating the work 136 at the head end to coincide with the line 96 indicating the blade 24 at the opposite end of the series of knives and the work 138 at the rump end aligned with a blade 24 corresponding to the number of cuts to be made. Similarly the opposite side 94 of the small pin bank is aligned with the appropriate blade'to effect the for slicing furs by which the above mentioned objectives are completely fulfilled. Also, it is understood that various modifications and or changes can be made in the method and apparatus disclosed herein without departing from the true spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that the foregoing description is illustrative of a preferred embodiment only, not limiting, andthat the true spirit and scope of the present invention be determined by reference to the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of slicing fur pelts in conjunction with the letting-out technique employed in the manufacture of fur garments, said method comprising the steps of:

feeding a pelt on a surface through a series of axially spaced circular slitting knives projecting above said surface and rotating in the direction of pelt feed; and

holding said pelt against said surface on opposite sides of each of certain of said knives during feeding to make a cut in said pelt while leaving at least a portion of said pelt unheld against said surface and thereby free to ride over others of said rotating knives withoutcutting.

2. The method recited in claim 1 wherein said pelt is fed on a bias angle through said knives and wherein a trailing corner portion of said pelt is left unheld against said surface.

3. The method recited in claim '2 wherein a leading comer portion of said pelt opposite said trailing corner portion is located beyond an end-most one of said knives thereby to leave uncut, a generally triangular portion of said pelt at opposite ends thereof.

4. The method recited in claim 1 wherein said pelt is fed with the hide side thereof against said surface.

5. The method recited in claim 1 including the steps of arranging the sliced pelts on an invertable out-feed table portion; placing a retaining card on the sliced pelt; and inverting the assembly of said discharged table portion and said retaining card to deposit said sliced pelt on said card;

6. The method of slicing pieces of pliable sheet material such as fur pelts, pliable leather and the like, said method comprising the steps of:

feeding a piece of the pliable sheet material on a surface located between the axis and the peripheral cutting edges of a plurality of axially spaced, rotating, circular slitting knives and in the tangential direction of said knife rotation; and

holding said piece against said surface over at least a portion of its area and on opposite sides of certain of said knives to makecuts in the area of said piece held against said surface while leaving at least an area portion of said sheet unheld against said surface and thereby free to ride over others of said rotating knives without cutting.

7. The method recited in claim 6 wherein said piece is held against said surface on lines parallel to the direction of feed, there being one such line of holding on each side of said certain cutting knives.

. The method recited in claim 6 including thestep of orienting the angular disposition of said piece on said surface to establish a bias angle of cutting. 

1. The method of slicing fur pelts in conjunction with the letting-out technique employed in the manufacture of fur garments, said method comprising the steps of: feeding a pelt on a surface through a series of axially spaced circular slitting knives projecting above said surface and rotating in the direction of pelt feed; and holding said pelt against said surface on opposite sides of each of certain of said knives during feeding to make a cut in said pelt while leaving at least a portion of said pelt unheld against said surface and thereby free to ride over others of said rotating knives without cutting.
 2. The method recited in claim 1 wherein said pelt is fed on a bias angle through said knives and wherein a trailing corner portion of said pelt is left unheld against said surface.
 3. The method recited in claim 2 wherein a leading corner portion of said pelt opposite said trailing corner portion is located beyond an end-most one of said knives thereby to leave uncut, a generally triangular portion of said pelt at opposite ends thereof.
 4. The method recited in claim 1 wherein said pelt is fed with the hide side thereof against said surface.
 5. The method recited in claim 1 including the steps of arranging the sliced pelts on an invertable out-feed table portion; placing a retaining card on the sliced pelt; and inverting the assembly of said discharged table portion and said retaining card to deposit said sliced pelt on said card.
 6. The method of slicing pieces of pliable sheet material such as fur pelts, pliable leather and the like, said method comprising the steps of: feeding a piece of the pliable sheet material on a surface located between the axis and the peripheral cutting edges of a plurality of axially spaced, rotating, circular slitting knives and in the tangential direction of said knife rotation; and holding said piece against said surface over at least a portion of its area and on opposite sides of certain of said knives to make cuts in the area of said piece held against said surface while leaving at least an area portion of said sheet unheld against said surface and thereby free to ride over others of said rotating knives without cutting.
 7. The method recited in claim 6 wherein said piece is held against said surface on lines parallel to the direction of feed, there being one such line of holding on each side of said certain cutting knives.
 8. The method recited in claim 6 including the step of orienting the angular disposition of said piece on said surface to establish a bias angle of cutting. 